Minnesota man paralyzed at trampoline park files lawsuit

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (KMSP) - A Minnesota man is suing a trampoline park after a jump into a foam pit left him permanently paralyzed. According to the lawsuit, 39-year-old Anthony Seitz was playing with his son at the Airmaxx Trampoline Park in St. Cloud, Minn. last August when he flipped into a foam pit and struck the bottom, suffering a broken neck and severe spinal injury.

Anthony’s son, Logan, witnessed the incident, saying they were just jumping in the foam pit when the accident happened.

"We were waiting for minutes and he didn't come up,” Logan said. “We started digging in the foam. Then we found him and he was saying he couldn't move."

The Seitz family has hired a national law firm specializing in trampoline park safety. Atlanta-based attorneys L. Chris Stewart and Eugene Felton say there is minimal regulation and industry standard to prevent such tragedies.

They intend to change that and the lawsuit is the first step. The lawsuit against Airmaxx was filed in late December in Stearns County.

The lawsuit accuses Airmaxx Trampoline Park of gross negligence for failing to provide adequate safeguards and supervision and failing to meet the safety standards of the International Association of Trampoline Parks.

The lawsuit also alleges Airmaxx had knowledge of prior injuries involving guests hitting the bottom of the foam pit.

"First of all let me say that we want to express our condolences to Mr. Seitz. He sustained a serious neck injury when he attempted to flip, or possibly double flip, into a foam pit. He landed improperly on his neck causing his injuries. Before engaging in this activity Mr. Seitz did sign a waiver of liability. Waivers are standard in virtually all sporting activities that employ some level of risk. The Airmaxx facility in question has been opened for about five years and has been host to a couple of hundred thousand patrons. In that time there have been no major injuries. The injury ratio is far less than what you would see at a ski resort, for example, or in sporting activities like football, soccer, and hockey. The Airmaxx facility is well run and safe. Our patrons are instructed not to exceed their capabilities. Therefore, Airmaxx fully intends to defend itself against the claims that have been made by the plaintiff and his lawyers."